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Trump expands generics tariff, broadens Section 232 scope

President Donald Trump unveiled a phased tariff plan for imported generic drugs, imposing a zero tariff for two years starting August 1, 2026, then escalating to 100% for one year and 200% thereafter to push onshoring of U.S. production and penalize companies that don’t build domestic facilities. The move expands the administration’s pharmaceutical trade policy after an earlier Section 232 action and signals potential broader application beyond generics to reshape drug supply chains.

11 sources

Photo: Alexandre Prevot from Nancy, France / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Novartis Plans 140 Billion Won RLT Hub in Korea

Novartis will invest about 140 billion won to build Korea’s domestic radioligand therapy ecosystem, including local manufacturing, advanced cold-chain logistics, and a plan to train RLT specialists while expanding treatment sites from 10 to 30 hospitals. In partnership with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the move aims to boost Korea’s RLT research, development, and manufacturing capabilities and improve access for cancer patients.

6 sources

Samsung establishes RX Office to advance robotics

Samsung is establishing the RX (Robotics eXperience) Business Promotion Office, reporting directly to the CEO, to unify dispersed robotics capabilities and push robotics as a core growth driver across consumer and industrial domains. It will build a data factory at the Gumi plant, create global research hubs in the US, China, and Japan, recruit leading talent, and coordinate mid- to long-term strategy, technology development, and commercialization to accelerate field deployment of intelligent robots.

23 sources

Photo: Oskar Alexanderson / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

South Korea Exports Jump 52% July 1-20

South Korea’s exports for July 1–20 rose 52.3% year-on-year to $54.9 billion, led by a 180% surge in semiconductors, while passenger-car shipments fell about 10.6%, and exports to China and the United States grew strongly. Imports climbed 20% to $42.7 billion, producing a $12.2 billion trade surplus, with the period marking a record high though daily averages suggest volatility as global demand and energy prices influence flows.

14 sources

Photo: MariaSmith89 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

Shinsegae OKO plans $500M luxury hotel JV

Shinsegae Group and OKO Group are forming a $500 million joint venture to develop luxury hotels and branded residences under Aman and Janu, expanding hospitality and mixed-use projects across Asia, North America, and South Korea. The collaboration combines Shinsegae Property’s development expertise with OKO’s Aman/Janu brands to pursue global luxury hospitality and related real estate opportunities.

6 sources

Photo: Magneta6006 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Taekwang Expands Win-Win Loan Fund to 50 Billion

Taekwang Industrial, together with Woori Bank, expanded its Win-Win Loan program from 10 billion to 50 billion won to subsidize suppliers, raising the maximum loan per company to 1 billion won and offering interest-rate relief of 3.16 to 3.59 percentage points for 121 partner firms. The initiative also includes non-financial support such as succession planning and asset management, while Taekwang’s savings banks will write off 26.9 billion won in long-delinquent debt to aid vulnerable borrowers.

7 sources